This years cup final is the best cup final since ___ (year) between _____ (Team A) and ______ (Team B).

[kingsholygrail]

Team B was the greatest dynasty of all time. Not even close.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

It's the best in a while and definitely the best of this decade.

The one last year was pure domination. Same with the 2021 series between TB and MTL, although I personally enjoyed that one because f*** MTL.

DAL/TB was kind of meh. TB/COL got good toward the end but didn't go seven games and one the score of one game was 7-0.

The 2019 SCF was enjoyable. I was so worried BOS was going to win, but STL came back from 3-2 down in the series and won Game Seven 4-1.

The finals in 2018, 2017, 2016 weren't very good in terms of competitiveness.

This is the best Stanley Cup Final since 2019 and the only ones I've seen that may be better are the ones from 1994, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2019.

STL was up 3-2 in the series.

 

[DitchMarner]

STL was up 3-2 in the series.

You're right. I misremembered. BOS had 1-0 and 2-1 leads in the series.

 

[bobholly39]

Its fun because for neutral fans its so much drama

I bet many neutral fans aren't fans of Edmonton or Florida.

But everyone knows McDavid. Either love him and his records, or hates him/wants him to fail

And 0-3 comebacks never happen...yet here we are. So much drama

It's enough to pull a lot of casual fans in.

I couldn't say best final since when exactly - but it's been spectacular to follow

 

[Trade]

Sure, it’s been good, but only 1-out-of-6 so far has been a one-goal game. One was a two-goal game, and four 3+ goal victories. The reverse sweep aspect is cool, but I think a series of back and forth close games would’ve been more enjoyable as a neutral fan.

OT tonight would be incredible.

 

[CashMash]

I understand what the two-halves poster meant. Games aren't as entertaining without back-and-forth games.

The 0-3 comeback is a great story, objectively speaking, but it would be better if the games had been closer. Game 5 wasn't bad, but 8-1 and 5-1 leave little to watch. I hope the Panthers win this in a thriller... Of course, I wouldn't say no to a blowout, but that's from a homer perspective.

--Edit--

Oh, and I guess I would say it's the best since 2019 even though Rask didn't get his cup.

 

[Hockeyholic]

Can you call 16 fans a riot?

2011 and the years red wings vs pens and the losing Hossa years

18,362 average attendance this season and every playoff game sold out. I'm sure attendance will be great next year too.

They had great attendance in their first few years too. No louder building in the nhl circa 96.

Miami area can easily support an NHL franchise imo. They've proven it.

Regarding thread, why was 2011 an entertaining series? Game 1 was scoreless until like 15 seconds left. Every Boston victory was a blowout.

2013 was probably the last true classic from start to finish. There was doubt as to who would win.

 

[Hockeyholic]

Sure, it’s been good, but only 1-out-of-6 so far has been a one-goal game. One was a two-goal game, and four 3+ goal victories. The reverse sweep aspect is cool, but I think a series of back and forth close games would’ve been more enjoyable as a neutral fan.

OT tonight would be incredible.

I feel like tonight is going to be like 2011 or 2019. A blowout in one direction.

 

[Tom Polakis]

In terms of both storylines and how it has played out, I think there's a good case for this being the most interesting Cup Finals series ever. Of course there's the legacy of the greatest player of our generation and the Cup returning to Canada, but there's also Paul Maurice coaching nearly 2000 games without a Cup, and the Panthers staring at the possibility of losing the Finals two seasons in a row. There was already all of this before the series had its dramatic flip. The only way it can get better is a triple overtime game tonight decided with a breakaway goal.

 

[SheldonJPlankton]

It's good.

Be better if the NHL went to a 1-32 playoff format and added an additional round to the playoffs. The SC finals in July would be the sweetest.

 

[JaegerDice]

I prefer my SCF games to be well contested back-and forth affairs.

For that, 2013 was definitely tops.

2011 had too many blowouts.

2009 was fun too, but again, Detroit won 3 games in murderous fashion (ironic since they lost). Each individual game wasnt great in of itself.

2013 only had one stinker in game 3. Every other game was edge of your seat.

 

[Czechboy]

I've loved it but it's not been a great series. Most the 6 games have been lopsided. No OTs. Week break before it started. 3 day breaks in between. No major fights or brawls.

For me it is an all timer with the comeback and cup to Canada and McDavid storylines... Or can Florida get it this time. Lots of stories to be told.

 

[Dead Coyote]

18,362 average attendance this season and every playoff game sold out. I'm sure attendance will be great next year too.

They had great attendance in their first few years too. No louder building in the nhl circa 96.

Miami area can easily support an NHL franchise imo. They've proven it.

Regarding thread, why was 2011 an entertaining series? Game 1 was scoreless until like 15 seconds left. Every Boston victory was a blowout.

2013 was probably the last true classic from start to finish. There was doubt as to who would win.

2011 was exciting because there was hatred and rivalry between the teams, it was somewhat of a goaltending battle between Thomas and Luongo, also the year Thomas won his second Vezina in 6 seasons, there was so much controversy about the reffing (Remember the Burrows bite?). Mark Recchi at 43 became the oldest player to score in the finals, there was the Horton hit by Rome that made him leave on a stretcher (and pretty much ended his career prematurely), game 3 had almost 150 minutes in penalties, Luongo became the 13th goalie all time to have two shutouts in the finals and then 2 games later Thomas became the 14th goalie all time to do it. There was only one other goalie to do it in the modern era, Chris Osgood, until Matt Murray did it in 2017.

There were 3 extremely close games that Vancouver won, and then 3 games the Bruins smashed 4-0 and 8-1. That added to it, too.

 

[JaegerDice]

2011 was exciting because there was hatred and rivalry between the teams, it was somewhat of a goaltending battle between Thomas and Luongo, also the year Thomas won his second Vezina in 6 seasons, there was so much controversy about the reffing (Remember the Burrows bite?). Mark Recchi at 43 became the oldest player to score in the finals, there was the Horton hit by Rome that made him leave on a stretcher (and pretty much ended his career prematurely), game 3 had almost 150 minutes in penalties, Luongo became the 13th goalie all time to have two shutouts in the finals and then 2 games later Thomas became the 14th goalie all time to do it. There was only one other goalie to do it in the modern era, Chris Osgood, until Matt Murray did it in 2017.

There were 3 extremely close games that Vancouver won, and then 3 games the Bruins smashed 4-0 and 8-1. That added to it, too.

The problem was, for all the off-ice drama and storylines, the actual hockey was stinky poo trash.

 

[Dead Coyote]

The problem was, for all the off-ice drama and storylines, the actual hockey was stinky poo trash.

3 games were blowouts and 3 games were close and there were 4 shutouts total. I mean if you find that kind of hockey boring than fair enough but all 3 games Vancouver won were very exciting for me and up until the famous 4 minute collapse Game 7 was too. Also game 3 and the Horton hit added a little bit extra to the series even if it was a major blowout because we anticipated that Vancouver would come back hard and it would be an even bloodier series. That kinda didn't really happen after game 5 but it was still pretty exciting overall. Close series where either team could win because of goaltending but Boston was clearly the team with the better chance and Luongo had major collapses while also having the same capability as Thomas to steal games.

 

[I am not exposed]

Best ever!

Says this Florida fan haha

I liked Blues vs. Bruins a few years back

 

[majormajor]

I can't remember a better one.

The energy was very high for a cup final, normally plays are beaten to shreds at this point. But the every three day schedule helped a lot with that. I think they should do that every final now.

The only issue of course is that it is almost July - they really need to start everything a month or two earlier. Hockey is not a summer sport.

The ice quality could have been better as well. Having the cup final every year in some dry spot in Canada would be my preference.

 

[CashMash]

Since ever!

I can't remember a better one.

The energy was very high for a cup final, normally plays are beaten to shreds at this point. But the every three day schedule helped a lot with that. I think they should do that every final now.

The only issue of course is that it is almost July - they really need to start everything a month or two earlier. Hockey is not a summer sport.

The ice quality could have been better as well. Having the cup final every year in some dry spot in Canada would be my preference.

Nooooo

 

[BB79]

None. "The best since" implies that it was good, while it was actually pretty lousy

 

[Cashville]

It’s up there for sure. Would put it somewhere between NYR in 94 and the Pens/Wings b2b in the late 2000s.

 

[Ducks in a row]

Since 2007 for me when the Ducks won the Cup

 

[dirtydanglez]

since 2022 avs vs tampa

 

[BCNate]

I though this was a pretty terrible final. game 7 aside. Most of the games weren't close, and 3 days off between games sucked a ton of life out of it.

 

[thegazelle]

For me, it is hard to have a list that is consistent with what constitutes the best since as a kid, watching the 1987 Flyers/Oilers finals was absolutely thrilling given Philly's comeback and the Oilers ultimately prevailing. That was the best that I have seen until 1994. That whole playoffs was fun to watch and I was a Leafs fan then, so their run was very satisfying. But the Rangers/Vancouver final was phenomenal.

2006 Hurricanes and Oilers was stellar. I remember visiting my cousins in Edmonton and being on Whyte Ave in Edmonton during on the of the games and just feeling the electricity in the air. That series was fantastic on so many levels.

Until this recent SCF, the last one I thought was the most memorable to me was 2011 (I think) or around there - Boston vs. Vancouver. The whole series went back and forth and while game 7 was anticlimactic, the whole series just had superb entertainment value. I remember my son being in tears when Boston thrashed the Canucks that game 7-1 or 8-1 or something like that. All in all, that was a great finals to watch.

I'm sure there have been other ones, but those are the ones that are etched in my brain. I would say this Florida/Oilers series ranks 2 or 3 overall in my lifetime. What a tremendous series.

 

[VistamarCroissants]

Since 2009
Pens over Wings in 7